Wednesday, August 03, 2011

A Wearable Muslin

On Sunday afternoon when I went back to my sewing machine I just did not feel like working on the pea green linen dress.  I wanted something quick and easy.  I went to the fabric collection and pulled some knits and briefly pondered making another Vogue 1250 dress.  But truly I've worn that pattern out...I only want one more rendition and that should be in black...so next...

Last month I got a bunch of patterns from Sheila at Out of the Ashes.  This one caught my eye when I headed back to my bedroom.  It has a copyright date of 1995 and the pattern description says, "Misses Jacket & Dress close-fitting, A-line, pullover dress, above mid-knee, has short sleeves and narrow hem."


...and I thought it would look amazing in a ponte knit...specifically a grey ponte knit...or a navy blue ponte knit...and even though I knew they were in the fabric closet, I didn't feel like digging for them...so I opened the closet door and pulled the first interesting knit that I put my hands on.  Seriously, that's what I did.

This ITY knit was purchased from Fabric Mart several years ago and I didn't mind sacrificing it if the pattern didn't work out.


I started with a size 22.  After doing a quick tissue fit, I realized that I would need to add some in my middle section (natch!)...so I did a quick pivot and slide with the pattern on the fabric.  (I will need to go back and alter the pattern now that this dress works.)  Added one inch to the back pattern piece, which the instructions tell you to cut on the fold, but I decided to make a center back seam instead.  Of course, my sleeves had to be enlarged because of my bodacious biceps.  I also lengthened the sleeve because a cap sleeve just isn't appealing to me...and I added 3" to the hemline of the dress.

The entire dress was constructed on my serger.  I used stay tape in the shoulder seams and besides the hems, this was the only time I used my sewing machine.  The sleeves were inserted flat instead of in the round...and the hems were pressed flat then stitch witchery was pressed into the hems...finally the hems were topstitched with a twin needle.  The neckline was pressed under 1/2" and stitched down with twin needle stitching too.

I love this dress.  It has a drapey hem.  It fits closely but it's not tight.  It is unlined but future renditions may be.  It went together really quickly and I can make it again in a variety of knits that are presently residing in the collection.  The only change I will make to it is to raise the neckline about an inch.

Here it is with a cardigan:


I will definitely make more versions of this dress.  I want about five of them in various colors and fabrications.  They will be wonderful to wear during the transition from summer to fall...so expect to see more of them...especially since they go together in about three hours!

...as always, more later!

52 comments:

  1. I love it! As soon as I saw the print I thought of your lovely nude shoes. I have a stripe knit in these same colours and I think they're a really fresh way to add colour to your wardrobe without being too in your face. You look gorgeous in this dress.

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  2. What a serendipitous success! Of course, years of experience guided your hand to the exact right piece to marry with the pattern.

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  3. Cute 3 hr. dress! I'm jealous of your quick success!

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  4. I adore that dress. I just love the clothes you choose to make. That print is fabulous, looks great with or without the cardi and the shoes - stunning as always. g

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  5. Seriously, I cannot believe how great you've made this simple dress look -- the print is lovely and the fit and styling you've achieved are sublime -- beautiful work!

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  6. I love your last two creations. You look great in both of them.

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  7. Oh, Carolyn, that dress is fabulous. I love the swishy hem. And the topper on the pattern also looks great. A winner!

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  8. Looks absolutely lovely on you Carolyn and such a very summery colour too - you HAVE to make more IMHO!

    And, I hope you don't mind me saying so [I'm usually a pattern size 18 to 20-ish myself ]- but this style coupled with the printed-pattern of the fabric is very flattering and slimming on you :)

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  9. Your dress came out fabulous. I think this pattern calls does call for a few more renditions for sure!

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  10. More eye candy! this dress looks great on you, I love that print.

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  11. Oh I think the dress is perfect as is - no need to raise the neckline as it is for summer.

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  12. That dress is beautiful and so flattering. The colour, the style, just perfect.

    Kathy in Oz

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  13. I love that dress on you, and IMHO the neckline is fine, however, I understand that in a workplace you might want to bring it up just a tich.

    Once again a resounding success!

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  14. Love it and the print is awesome.

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  15. Ding ding ding . . . we have a winner! Looks fabulous, love the printed fabric!!

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  16. The dress looks lovely. I would agree that it is a "keeper"!

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  17. Wow. This dress is flattering. I love the print. The colors look so good on you. And I think you should leave well enough alone with the neckline. The dress is just perfect!

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  18. Really cute dress. You look wonderful in it. Nothing like a quick easy pattern that looks great.

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  19. That pattern and colors look very nice on you. I like the the cut of it

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  20. Hi I love the that minty green on you and I would leave the neckline too. A great quick job as usual.

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  21. Love it C and the print is just the right thing!

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  22. A lovely dress. It looks so effortlessly chic. Definitely make a few more!

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  23. I love this dress and it looks beautiful on you! Great job!

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  24. Fantastic new dress, Carolyn. Congrats.

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  25. I can`t believe that you didn`t spend hours deliberating over what fabric to use - looks fantastic. That swishy little hem is so flattering .

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  26. What a wonderful new dress pattern. I especially like the neckline on you and this print is fun without going overboard. Great new TNT!

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  27. There you go! Another TNT for Carolyn! That fabric was perfect...fun stuff!

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  28. Beautiful. I love everything about it. I have been looking at older classic patterns lately. I really need a sleeve if I don't want to wear a sweater or jacket.

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  29. Gorgeous! I've lurked around for a while and not commented. Bad me! Anyway, I make knit tops (I'm more into separates) the same way. Love it when I can sit down for an hour and get something terrific at the end. That's a great colour for you!

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  30. Great print! I'm glad you didn't go digging for your first choices!

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  31. I love this dress on you. The style, the fabric....everything is perfect!

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  32. This is so pretty! I agree with you that you have a winner

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  33. I love your dress! Simple lines that showcase the fabric! The cardigan came out wonderful also. What an inspiration you are!

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  34. Super cute! I love it when a plan comes together.

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  35. Love that dress! So glad fate dealt you a print, it really jazzy the pattern up.

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  36. That's a great dress! I'd love to find a dress pattern like that...the ones I think would work out well, either don't have sleeves or turn out too shapeless and then I spend too much time trying to give them shape.

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  37. Lovely dress! I, too, am impressed with how you looked in your fabric collection and selected a piece - not the piece in your minds eye. YAY. It's just perfect!

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  38. Cute dress, Carlolyn. I can't imagine only 3 hours!

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  39. Terrific! I suspect we are going to be seeing a few more versions of this over fall.

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  40. Pretty dress and lovely print.

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  41. This dress is fantastic. I love it on you and the fabric is really pretty. I can really see you in more of these and like you said it will be a nice transition piece to carry you through to the Fall.

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  42. Great new dress, like the shoes and cardigan, too.

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  43. WOW!!! That dress is so cute! I love it, you look terrific in it. And just 3 hours, that's fantastic.

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  44. Oh WOW!

    I've recently come across your blog thanks to your comments at dear gmarie/Gaylen's blog.

    This dress looks gorgeous on you. I so admire your skills with [pattern drafting/altering, fabric choices and your sewing talents.

    This granddaughter of a Bespoke Tailoress needs to clean up the clutter in her home and get sewing again (along with the knitting, of course). Special thanks for the inspiration you've given me (and adding - oh my, you look so very fine in that new dress),

    and sending care and huggles, Michelle downunder in Wellington, New Zealand xxxxx

    (and puRRRRumbles from my Zebby Cat)

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  45. Hi, its my 1st visit on your blog. You sew beautifully.

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  46. love it, the dress looks great on you!!

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  47. One would never guess that this was intended as a test garment. I love the print and the style is quite flattering. And...the style allows the fabric to do the work. Great!

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  48. I have that same fabric in the purple color-way. I made that Vogue plunging neckline dress that was so popular a couple of years ago. Maybe that fabric just likes to show flesh?

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  49. Wow... that's a great muslin. The dress is very flattering, and I love that print on you.

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